Councilmen set timetable to make MCC resolution hearing

Between the first week of December and mid-January a series of key joint Metro Council committee meetings are scheduled that could help decide the fate of the proposed $585 million convention center.

In a letter co-written by At-large Councilman Ronnie Steine and Councilman Erik Cole, confirmed dates of the meetings are outlined to Council members, a schedule conceived to provide “ample time and sufficient opportunity to have all their questions answered.”

Steine serves as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee while Cole heads the Convention, Tourism and Public Entertainment Facilities Committee.

The timetable, the letter continues, is designed for the Council to consider the convention center package resolution at its regular Jan. 19 meeting at 6:30 p.m.

“Although some technical changes will be made to the documents after Dec. 3, the essential terms of the financing package will remain unchanged,” the letter (which can be downloaded below) reads.

The meetings:

• On Dec. 3, the Council and Convention Center Authority will receive the Music City Center’s financing proposal

• On Dec. 9, a question-and-answer session will take place following the Budget and Finance and Planning Committee meetings

• On Jan. 11, a final question-and-answer session is scheduled

• On Jan.14, a meeting is scheduled to deliberate and make recommendations on the convention center’s financing package resolution